Ayala Malls is deepening its presence in the Visayas with the launch of Ayala Malls Gatewalk in Mandaue City, a major retail and lifestyle development that will host the first IKEA store in Cebu and the wider Visayas region.
Set to open in December 2026, the 56,000-square-meter mall is expected to become a key commercial landmark in Cebu, one of the country’s fastest-growing regional economies.
Located within Ayala Land’s master-planned Gatewalk estate, the four-level, fully air-conditioned mall will be directly connected to an office tower and a public transport hub, creating an integrated destination for residents, workers, tourists, and commuters.
The project’s biggest draw is IKEA’s roughly 4,000-square-meter store, marking the Swedish furniture giant’s first expansion into the Visayas. The move brings IKEA’s range of affordable home furnishings closer to consumers outside Metro Manila and reflects growing confidence in Cebu’s expanding consumer market.
Ayala Malls Gatewalk will also feature a mix of international and local retailers, new dining concepts, a Shopwise supermarket, and two cinemas, broadening lifestyle and entertainment options for Cebuano shoppers.
Designed as more than a shopping destination, the development will include community-focused spaces such as a central outdoor courtyard and the ARTrium, an immersive digital art hallway welcoming visitors from the main entrance.
“Ayala Malls Gatewalk represents a new frontier in retail for us,” said Paul Birkett, chief operating officer of Ayala Malls, adding that the project reflects the company’s strategy of creating experiential destinations that encourage community engagement while supporting regional growth.
The project is Ayala Land’s long-term bet on Cebu’s continued economic expansion, driven by rising incomes, infrastructure investments, tourism, and population growth.
With retail, dining, entertainment, and civic spaces under one roof, Ayala Malls Gatewalk is positioning itself as Cebu’s next major lifestyle hub and a catalyst for further urban development in the Visayas.
